Epic of Caterpillar

[Day 246]

[Kireina] gained +290 Skill Points and Subclass Skill Points due to the prayers of your believers!] (Added!)

[Kireina] gained 5.122.420.220.100 EXP due to the prayers of your believers!]

[LEVEL 097/250] [EXP 6.561.591.007.457/20.230.000.000.000] (Added!)

Today I woke up quite early to receive a large number of people joining my Empire.

I went with my main body out of the Empire and flew towards the coastal regions of the Border Continent, where the tribes of Cancer, Crab-type Arachne were waiting for me, alongside the teams I sent to the dungeon in this beach, which directly connects to the depths of the ocean.

If I go alone, I can fly without caring for the safety of any passengers, reaching the place in a few minutes while using many of my speed-boosting skills.

There, I was received by my slime clones, which had merged into a Slime Clone Colony that took my appearance with the 'mimicry' skill.

Despite being connected with my souls, Slime Clones were still different wills and souls of their own, and could not share the ability to open portals to my Inner Realms for easier transportation, so I went in person.

The beach of the coastal region was beautiful, the sea was vast and blue, and the wind was strong, with the smell of salt impregnating the surroundings. White-brown dunes were surrounding the beach, where many tribes of Cancer made their homes ashore.

There were also many cliffs to the side, where the sea was more furious and hit the rocks with strength while bubbling. A quick peek into the depths with my Mystic Eyes revealed an amazingly beautiful variety of flora and fauna underwater… many delicious things to eat as well.

"You're finally here, me," said the Slime Clone Colony.

"Well, hello, me… you all just got together into a big one?" I asked.

"Yes… well, it was needed so Kaggoth could recognize our facial expressions, we are simply red slimes in the outside, me," said the Slime Clone Colony, who had taken the same appearance as me but was currently wearing a swimsuit.

"What with the swimsuit?" I asked.

"We wanted to take a dip in the water, it is refreshing, especially with the strong sun of summer, why don't you bring the family?" asked the Slime Clone while changing her clothes to a dark dress.

"Oh… bringing them here would certainly be an entertaining way to take a break… good idea, me," I said.

"No problem… now, let me present you to the Cancer tribe members, the princess, the kings, and all… I know that you already know them all, but not in person, it is good to make a good impression" said the colony.

"Indeed, I'll follow your lead," I said, as I was invited by my slime clone colony to the inside of the tribe of the Red Carapace, the Cancer's strongest and larges tribe out of the three on the shores.

The Cancer divided themselves into three tribes inside the coastal regions, the Red Carapace as the largest one, made up out of mostly red-colored Cancer, who had their lower crab halves covered in the red exoskeleton and were in the conventional shape of a crab.

There was then the Blue Carapace tribe, the second largest and strongest. It was made up of blue carapace Cancer who had their lower halves more adapted to swim, with smaller claws but great speed underwater.

And then there was the Green Carapace tribe, the third tribe and the smallest of the three, it was made out of green carapace Cancer who had their lower halves covered in the green-colored exoskeleton. They were very pacific and enjoyed farming different types of algae on the shores and in their own carapaces, which took the green pigment from the algae they grew in their bodies and also ate. They had the smallest builds and seemed to lack pincers at all, only having extra legs and other legs adapted to swim incredibly fast, they were both on land and water, but lacked any type of offense.

These were the three major tribes and also subspecies, of course, there were hybrids between the three colors, which would result in orange, purple, and other hybrids. They were also living with various other families of water-adapted demi-human such as Mermaid and Mermen, Scylla, Mershark, and so on. These other races were able to make hybrids between Cancer but were often rarer.

I met with the three Kings of the three tribes, alongside their princesses… for some reason.

I believe that Rajaba was the princess of the Red Carapace Tribe, but why do I exactly need to meet with the other princesses?

I wondered this as I met with many people, most of them glancing at me with admiration, others saw how I and my clone were exactly similar.

"Is she Kireina-sama?"

"So that's the real body that she was talking about?"

"She is… even more, beautiful than the other!"

"Such splendor!"

Some praised me and others feared me.

"H-Her pressure… can anyone else feel it?"

"Those eyes… so dangerous!"

"A vicious beast in the skin of a delicate woman… who would be able to conquer such a woman?"

"Ah, I feel a bit weak after staring at her for too long…"

Although they had the lower halves of crabs, they acted just as any demi-human or human, some were surprised, others feared, and others had an interest. No matter the races they are, what appearances they take, the minds that make us all humans are always present in demi-humans.

"Here, here~," said my clone as we entered a large tent where most of the party that I sent to the dungeon were, there was Jorogumo, Erathe, Ganjo, Gufumin, Fatima, Katara, and so on.

"Ah, it's the real master!!!" said Ganjo, grabbing me with his arms and hugging me like a puppy that missed his master.

"Master! We missed you!" said Erathe while waving her tails and licking my face.

"I want to lick master as well!" said Jorogumo.

"Wait, guys please calm down… You are embarrassing me in front of the three Kings" I muttered, as everyone let me go from their embrace.

The three kings laughed as they glanced at us.

There was the Red Carapace King, Rajacrack, a giant man with almost three meters tall upper body, his lower body made him look even bigger, reaching four to five meters, he was packed in muscles and his red pincers were as big as cars. He had white skin covered in red-colored exoskeleton scales around his shoulders, chest, and neck. He had three pairs of arms and a long red beard, with a long and wild red hair decorated with antennae.

To his left was the Blue Carapace King, a slim and flexible upper half with white skin and blue scales around his body, he had gills on his neck, bright azure hair, reaching his hips, and aquamarine eyes gleaming with wisdom. He was way smaller than Rajacrack, only reaching three meters tall… well, it was still big. His lower half had smaller pincers than Rajacrack, but they certainly did not lose in sharpness and strength, he had half of his legs seemingly adapted on swimming, with long membranes. He was way younger than Rajacrack, who looked above his fifties, as this king seemed to be in his early thirties.

And to Rajacrack's right, there was the Green Carapace King, his proportions were the smallest of the three, and he had a beautiful appearance resembling more a woman than a man. He had long bright green hair filled with starfish and other decorations, his upper half was petite and slim, like a beautiful woman. He had his face painted as well for the occasion, making him more beautiful than he already was… he had long and painted nails, and was wearing a tight kimono on his upper half, unlike the other two kings who were bare-chested. His lower half was a small crab that lacked pincers yet had many legs, adapted for both fast travelings on land and in water. He always had his eyes closed like a cunning fox, wearing a gentle smile.

"Hahaha! It is fine, Kireina-sama. Affection is always welcomed in our tribes! By the way, I am Rajacrack, the King of the Red Carapace tribe," said Rajacrack.

"Indeed, it is fine to show affection, especially to your beloved servants. It is nice to meet the Empress of the Dark Moon Empire. I am Rajuto, the King of the Blue Carapace" said Rajuto.

"Indeed, it is very adorable, fufu… I am Rejuna, the King of the Green Carapace, nice to meet you, Kireina-sama of the Dark Moon Empire" said Rejuna.

"I see… it is all a bit sudden, but it's nice to meet all of you, Rajacrack, Rajuto, and Rejuna," I said with a gentle smile.

"And these ladies… who might they be?" I asked.

The kings then glanced at each other mischievously.

"Perhaps you have already heard of her, but this is my eldest daughter, Rajaba," said Rajacrack while pointing at his daughter at his side. After Rajaba evolved twice in the dungeon, she became even stronger than her own father, almost being of his same size. She had long and azure hair, unlike her father's red hair, alongside this, she had aquamarine eyes and a slim and flexible upper half, while her lower half seemed so massive, heavy, and strong that resembled a living tank.

"Ah, Kireina-sama… the master of my husband! It is nice to meet you! You are just as beautiful as your clone, or even more! Like a doll!" said Rajaba between chuckles.

"Rajaba, don't be disrespectful!" said another princess.

"Oh this is my daughter, the princess of the Blue Carapace, my pride and joy, my little girl, Rajuta!" said Rajuto, the King of the Blue Carapace.

"Hm! Nice to meet you Empress-sama!" said Rajuta, she resembled her father a lot, almost as if she were a gender-swapped version of him. But of course, she had a large chest to compensate for the lack of muscles and wide hips, a more toned and delicate face, and dazzling azure eyes and hair.

"F-Father… will you present me to Kireina-sama?" asked a little princess.

"Yes, my dear, this is my daughter, Kireina-sama. She is the princess of the Green Carapace, Rejuni!" said Rejuna while lifting his daughter, who was smaller than him yet seemed to have reached maturity already. Green Carapace Cancer seemed to have very small builds, Rejuna was one of the biggest of his tribe…

"Nice to meet you! P-Please be a good wife!" said Rejuni while flushing. She had the upper half of a woman in her early twenties, with a small lower half of a green-colored crab with many legs and lacking pincers. She had long and glossy green hair tied into a flower-shaped decoration while wearing a green kimono with seaweed decorations, she had bright green eyes and a cute face.

"Wait… wife?" I asked.

"Ah, my daughter, you shouldn't have said that… yet!" said Rejuna.

"Oh no! Did I messed it up, father?!" asked Rejuni.

"W-We'll have to tell her right now then?" asked Rajuto.

"What is going on?" I asked.

"You see… that's what I forgot to tell you, me… These two kings want their daughters to be your wives… Rajacrack wanted the same but got contented when I said that Gufumin was like… our adoptive son?" said my Slime Clone Colony.

"Well, that's a bit of an overstatement…" I said.

"Have they consulted Kaggoth about this?" I asked.

"Yes, and she seemed to agree…" said my Slime Colony Clone.

"Kireina-sama, please take our daughters as your wives!" said Rajuto and Rejuna at the same time, the two kings of the blue and green carapace.

"Why is there any need for it?" I asked.

"Isn't it obvious, Kireina-sama? So, we can become part of the royal family and keep our position!"

"If we will become simple citizens, our people won't listen to us so simply…"

It seems that Cancer had a very strict hierarchy where the kings had some kind of special authority over the rest of their kind that let them be respected.

Due to this power, the tribes could be as united, if not, all the Crab Arachne would be scattered into the shore without obeying anyone and not worshiping their goddess.

It was a very strange culture, but I kind of understood it.

"If we join your Empire… they won't listen to us!"

"And what if they go and do stupid things on our behalf?"

"These two heard that you liked only women, so they brought their eldest daughters… they were planning on offering themselves," said Rajacrack.

"Sigh… there is no need for all for this. You two should not worry. Do not forcefully marry your daughters to others if they are not willing. I have the power to guide others, they will obey me as long as they drink my blood and eat my food… so let's make a big feast for everyone" I said.

"…Eh? That simple?!" said the three Kings.

"Do you really think that I am not using any kind of powers to lead so many people as I do? Sigh…" I muttered.

It seems that the two princesses were excited about marrying me but also were relieved after hearing that it was not necessary.

The rest of the day was spent in a large feast, where I brought my family and the Kings got to know my vast amount of wives and children.

They saw potential in marrying their daughters with my children in the future… but I will not force them to do so.

As the night fell, almost nine out of ten of the population of all demi-humans of the three tribes combined had become 'guided' by me, and also gained my blessings. A sense of unity that the Cancer lacked without a king slowly blossomed in their hearts that not even Kaggoth, their mother goddess could ever awake from within them.

Then, in the middle of the night, and when everyone had already been transported to my Empire, I decided to take a short trip to the dungeon with my Slime Clone Colony, meeting with Kaggoth.

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